Paraguay football match suspended after fan clashes leave several injured

Asuncion: Paraguayan authorities halted a top-flight football match between Olimpia and Cerro Porteno on Sunday after violence broke out at a stadium in the capital, leaving several people injured.

The disruption took place at Defensores del Chaco Stadium, where witnesses said the unrest began after powerful firecrackers were set off in the section reserved for Cerro Porteno supporters. According to witness accounts, the fireworks had been smuggled into the stand.

One person told a local newspaper that some supporters took a riot shield from a police officer and paraded it before the crowd. Television footage from the scene showed smoke covering parts of the stands as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas, prompting hundreds of spectators to run onto the pitch.

The game, played before a crowd of around 40,000, was stopped after 29 minutes. About 100 people were detained following the incident.

In a statement, local police said,

Police officers acted immediately to ensure the safety of those in attendance,

while adding that officers were working to identify those responsible for starting the violence so they could be punished and prevented from attending future sporting events.

Police report injuries among officers

Security officials said at least six police officers were hurt and taken to hospital, with one reported to be in serious condition. It was not immediately clear whether any supporters were among the injured.

David Torales, a spokesperson for the hospital, said the wounded officers suffered head trauma, cuts, possible stab wounds and other injuries.

Police also said they were trying to identify those who instigated the confrontation so they could face sanctions and be barred from future matches.

Dispute over responsibility

The Paraguayan Football Association, or APF, has rules stating that a team can lose a match if its supporters cause the game to be abandoned.

Olimpia president Rodrigo Nogues said his club would ask the APF disciplinary tribunal to award it the three points from the fixture. Cerro Porteno president Blas Reguera, however, said responsibility for security rested with Olimpia because it was the organizing club for the match.

The suspended fixture came with both clubs near the top of Paraguay's top division standings. Olimpia currently leads the league, while Cerro Porteno is in second place.

The incident marked a major disruption to one of Paraguay's biggest football matches, with the fallout now expected to move to the disciplinary process as authorities continue their investigation and assess responsibility for the violence inside the stadium.